The Knights surged up the Ram Slam T20 log by beating the Warriors, while the Titans’ charge was washed out.
Given the Titans’ imperious form, it seemed inevitable that it would take something divine to stop them after four wins from four. Rain prevented any play in Benoni, but the runaway leaders gained two points for the ‘no result’ to go to 21 points from five matches.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, must feel ill-fated after their third washout in the series, which left them on 10 points, with just one win from five matches.
Down the order, the Knights overran the Warriors by four wickets to go to second on the log on 10 points, although it was a close-run thing, with just two balls remaining.
The Knights were given a target of 155 after a lone battle by the Warriors’ No 4 Colin Ackermann. He came in with the Warriors on 32-2 after five overs when the dangerous Colin Ingram had been taken out by left-arm seamer Mbulelo Budaza for five, and took the total to 115-6.
After the early loss of Gihahn Cloete (5) and Ingram, it was looking better when Ingram and Jon-Jon Smuts took the score to 32 in the powerplay. But the next ball, Smuts was bowled by legbreak spinner Eddie Leie for 23, and the momentum stalled.
Ackermann stood firm while his partners came and went, until he found a willing partner in Lesiba Ngoepe, who smashed 13 off six balls. Ackermann was caught off the last ball of the innings for a redeeming 74 off 51 balls, with five fours and two sixes.
The run rate of 7.75, though, was never going to be enough.
Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
